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Dear Archway Friends and Family, 

I hope everyone has gotten used to the change in time. While losing an hour of sleep is an adjustment, the payoff in the extended daylight makes it worth the effort.   

March was an exciting and informative month here at Archway Programs. We hosted a Wood’s Lunch and Learn in the Upper School Careers Center for the first time on March 4th. The special event brought together representatives from various affiliates within the Woods System of Care (WSOC). The events hosted at each affiliate location allow each organization to share its vision, processes, and success stories with other WSOC affiliates.  

I was proud of the directors of each of our programs and their presentations, which highlighted the valuable contributions of their departments. I am not the only person impressed with the presentations and the level of care we provide. The feedback I received from other affiliates in attendance has been outstanding. Your dedication to those in our care was evident in everything you shared, and it made a lasting impression on those in attendance.  

I want to thank Tine Hansen-Turton, the President and CEO of the Woods System of Care, for initiating the meetings and allowing each organization to showcase its work and contributions to the WSOC. These meetings are a valuable way to learn about the services each affiliate offers to those in their care, and they highlight the extensive range of services provided within the WSOC.  

The Lunch and Learn also reinforced my understanding of our Archway Family’s excellent work and commitment. I am proud to be a part of such a wonderful organization and am thrilled to share that pride with all the affiliates within the WSOC.  

Speaking of our work together, on April 11th, we will hold our Annual Employee Recognition Breakfast. I enjoy honoring the Archway Employees who have been with Archway through the years and those chosen by all of you for Employee of the Year and Leader of the Year.  

I want to remind everyone that we will hold our Annual Hands Around the Lake Autism Walk on April 15th. The walk will begin at 10:30 a.m. We are all hoping for beautiful weather. I hope to see everyone there! 

I also invite everyone to join Shawn Gibson and me at the Wood’s Services 2025 Run for Woods on June 1st in Langhorne, PA. You can check out Wood’s Services’ event page for more information or to join our team.

Thank you all for your continued dedication to those we serve. Your hard work and commitment genuinely make a difference in the lives of so many individuals and families. 

Sincerely, 

George Richards 

CEO/CFO 

Join the Archway staff, volunteers, and community members for our Annual Hands Around the Lake event to promote Autism Awareness and raise funds for individuals with autism through Archway Programs. Arrive by 10:20 a.m. and enjoy live music, entertainment, activities, and refreshments in a family-friendly atmosphere. Baked goods and Autism Awareness items will be available for purchase as part of the fundraising efforts.

Affiliate Partners Collaborate at Archway Programs’ ‘Woods Global, Woods Local’ Lunch and Learn

Affiliate Partners from all areas of The Wood’s System of Care (WSOC) gathered on Tuesday, March 4, at the Archway Programs’ Upper School in Atco, NJ, for a “Woods Global, Woods Local Lunch and Learn.” 

The Lunch and Learns are part of a broader initiative to promote information sharing across the care system. Directors from each division of Archway Programs presented information about their respective programs, highlighting how these initiatives complement the care system by discussing their contributions, successes, and future goals. 



Presenters included TerraAnn Madden, Director of Step by Step, Early Intervention; Jay Montague, Director of ACT Partial Care, Adult Counseling and Therapy; Donnie Gamble, Director of Just Kids Before and After School Child Care; Susan Lafferty, Executive Director of Education; Shawn Gibson, COO, presenting for Mickie Patetta, DDD Director; and Karen Todd, Director of I.T. 

Also in attendance were Tine Hansen-Turton, President and CEO of The Wood’s Wood’s of Care; George Richards, CEO and CFO of Archway Programs; and Shawn Gibson, COO of Archway. 

Double Celebration: AADP Participants Mark St. Patrick's Day and Saafir's 25th Birthday!  

Advanced Abilities Day Program (AADP) participants enjoyed a double March celebration. Not only did they celebrate St. Patrick's Day with goodies, music, and fun, but they also celebrated Saafir's 25th birthday! Happy Birthday, Saafir! We hope you had a great day!  

AADP Grows by Two More Friends

The Advanced Abilities Day Program (AADP) participants welcomed and celebrated two new additions to the family! Welcome, Christina and Nikoli. We are thrilled to have you join our growing family of friends! 

Green Thumbs at Work: AADP Participants Nurture Plants for Flower Shop  

Advanced Abilities Day Program participants were busy putting their green thumbs to work. The group spent time in the Horticulture Room potting new plants for Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts. The participants supply the flower shop with various houseplants they grow from seed and nurture until they are ready to be handed over to the flower shop for sale.  

Upper School Celebrates Dr. Seuss Week with Creative Themed Days!

Upper School students and staff celebrated Dr. Seuss Week with a series of themed days in honor of “Read Across America.” They kicked off the festivities with “Cat in the Hat Day,” during which students wore red and white stripes, followed by “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Day,” during which students showcased school spirit in red, blue, and fish-themed attire. “Green Eggs and Ham Day” featured a delightful breakfast of green eggs, ham, and biscuits, while “Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Day” encouraged students to dress as their future selves, with creative costumes ranging from firefighters to astronauts. The week ended with “Fun Sock Friday,” where everyone wore silly and mismatched socks.

Upper School Book Fair 

Upper School hosted its Annual Scholastic Book Fair in March. Students shopped throughout the day, exploring a wide selection of fabulous titles, bookmarks, pencils, and other accessories. The fair continued until Monday, March 17th. The proceeds from the book fair provide books for the school that all students can enjoy.   

Students Celebrate Kindness with an Inspiring Chain of Respect

Upper School students and staff completed a Chain of Respect to hang in the hallway again this year. The activity has been a favorite of the students and staff as it represents a visual reminder of how easy it is to show respect to anyone. Each chain link features handwritten notes from students and staff expressing what respect means to them and what they can do daily to show respect to others. 

Lower School Celebrates Dr. Seuss Spirit Week with Fun-Themed Days!

Lower School students celebrated Dr. Seuss Spirit Week with a series of fun-themed days. The week started with "Cat in the Hat Day," where everyone wore crazy hats, followed by "Fox in Socks Day," showcasing silly sock combinations. "Wacky Wednesday" brought colorful and mismatched outfits, while Thursday featured "Whoville Hair Day," with students displaying imaginative hairstyles inspired by the beloved Dr. Seuss characters. The week concluded with "Pajama and Movie Day," allowing students and staff to relax in their favorite PJs while enjoying movies, wrapping up a fantastic week of Dr. Seuss-inspired activities.

Dr. Seuss-Inspired STEM Activities 

Lower School rooms 12 and 15 did a series of fun Dr. Seuss-inspired STEM challenges during Dr. Seuss Spirit Week. The students chose partners and rotated around to each STEM challenge. They enjoyed hands-on learning while working through lessons cleverly disguised as fun activities!  

Shamrock Scavenger Hunt: A Saint Patrick's Day Adventure for Lower School Students

Lower School students enjoyed an exciting Scavenger Hunt to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day. Students had to find all the different colored shamrocks placed throughout the school. Each shamrock had a letter on the back that ultimately spelled a name. Students also completed a similar task as an alternate activity but used their findings to complete a word puzzle. Once they had completed the hunt, they went to see Ms. Sandy, who gave them a chocolate gold coin or a small toy. Students enjoyed the hunt and especially liked the reward at the end! 

Students Shine in Archway Idol Talent Show!

Lower School students and staff entertained an excited audience filled with fellow students and staff as they showed off their talents during the Archway Idol show!  

Ms. Monica acted as emcee, and Ms. Katie, the music therapist, provided music and ample encouragement to all the performers. She and other staff wore various hats while bringing the stellar production together.  

Judges evaluated the performers and decided who would be “Going to Hollywood!” The judging panel included Ms. Sandy, Ms. Jamie, and Ms. Brooke. They had the challenge of scoring all the incredible acts based on talent and presentation. With so much creativity and skill on display, choosing the winners was no easy feat, but they did an excellent job!  

Thank you to all the staff who worked behind the scenes to make this a fun and memorable experience for the students.  

Lower School Students Enjoy an Exciting Prismatic Magic Laser Show!

On Friday, March 28th, Lower School students ended their final full week of March with a fantastic Prismatic Magic Laser Show! Everyone enjoyed the colorful imagery paired with popular and energizing music! It was a spectacular show and a fun way to head into the weekend. 

Cooper’s Poynt Earthquake Unit  

Cooper’s Poynt students shook things up while working on an earthquake unit this month. In true Archway Programs fashion, Mr. Dave and the staff made the lesson an interactive experience the students couldn't help but enjoy!   

Archway Proud: Cooper’s Poynt Students Explore the Franklin Institute

Cooper’s Poynt Blue/Gold students earned a trip to the Franklin Institute. In addition to the exciting exhibits, they also attended the Planetarium and watched a live show. It was an exciting opportunity for them to learn about space and astronomy. We are Archway Proud of all of you for maintaining your Blue/Gold status and excellent behavior! Your hard work and dedication truly paid off! Great job! 

Students Engage in Hands-On Horticulture Project in Preparation for Earth Day  

Cooper's Poynt students dug in and got their hands dirty while participating in a hands-on horticulture lesson. They potted plants for an upcoming Earth Day science lesson focused on root systems. Students potted and labeled their seeds, and they will watch and chart the progression as the seedlings sprout and grow in preparation for their lesson. After the lesson, the plants are intended for a special occasion. We will let you know about the special intention when it happens!  

Drumming Up Fun: Cooper’s Poynt Students Get Creative in Music Class!

One of the few times tapping, drumming, and even banging is encouraged: music class! Students from Cooper’s Poynt, room 107, enjoyed making music today while playing drums and using rhythm sticks. What an enjoyable way to enhance motor skills, recognize patterns, and improve coordination! Don’t tell them all that. They are simply having fun!

Platinum Students Earn a Tasty Trip to the Sugar Factory 

On March 13th, Creative Achievement Academy students celebrated their platinum card status at the Sugar Factory in Atlantic City, NJ. Excellent job keeping your platinum card status, students! We are Archway Proud of all of you! 

Just Kids Celebrates Spring with Creative Fun and Games!

On Monday, March 3rd, Beeler Elementary brightened up the room with newly painted bins for toys, creating a more exciting play area for the children. Students from the Dr. Albert Bean Just Kids group participated in a fun Leprechaun-themed game called "Steal the Pot of Gold," which had everyone laughing and enjoying themselves. In addition to the exciting games, the children got creative by turning Legos into beautiful flowers and showcasing their artistic skills with various crafts and projects. It's a wonderful time for the kids as they enjoy spring with imagination and fun! 

Voorhees Ladies Visit Color Me Mine Ceramics 

Mid March, the ladies from our Voorhees group home enjoyed a creative and inspiring community outing to Color Me Mine Ceramics in Voorhees. They enjoyed painting their lovely creations. We can't wait to see how they look after firing! Great job, Ladies! 

 Lafayette Ladies Enjoy Cupcake Decorating with ARC 

The lovely ladies from our Voorhees group home enjoyed decorating 🍀Saint Patrick’s Day🍀 cupcakes with ARC at the Lindenwold Moose Lodge. The ladies had a wonderful time, and they especially enjoyed eating their tasty works of art! 

Lafayette Ladies Make Irish Potatoes 

The lovely ladies from our Voorhees group home worked together to make a delicious holiday-themed treat: Irish Potatoes! The trio of lovelies made the treats themselves with just a wee bit o’ guidance. The resulting confections look delicious! Great job, ladies! We hope you enjoyed your tasty treats! 

Yasir Shows Off His Skills in Work-Study Program

Yasir, an Upper School student, is showing off his latest creations while participating in his work-study program at Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts. He has been working hard to improve his floral design skills while learning how a flower shop operates. He is responsible for watering the plants and keeping displays neat and fresh. Great job, Yasir. We are proud of your progress and dedication to your responsibilities. 

Michael is Springing Forward with Fresh New Spring Designs.

Michael has been busy preparing for spring flowers popping up! During his study time at Blue Violet Flowers and Gifts, he continued working on his floral design skills with a stunning arrangement of chrysanthemums and other colorful blooms. Great job, Michael! Keep up the good work! 

Welcome to the Archway Family!

We are proud to welcome new employees to the Archway Family as our organization expands, allowing us to help more families throughout the community. Please help us give a warm welcome to the newest members of the Archway Family!

Allies Walking Initiative Gets People Moving

Spring has arrived all throughout New Jersey, and Allies is getting in the spring spirit by hosting a walking contest to encourage healthy habits and active lifestyles.

The arrival of warmer temperatures has just about everyone at Allies itching to get out and enjoy some of the sunshine. To make the most of the warm weather, Allies is holding a walking contest for people receiving residential services through Allies. In addition, the entire administrative staff was also invited to take part in the challenge.

Before the contest kicked off on March 1, step-counters were delivered to every person at Allies who wanted to participate. At the end of each week, everyone who is participating submits their total step count. At the end of each month, the winning walkers will receive two movie tickets. The contest will run for at least 3 months, when the winning team and individual will receive a bigger prize. Read More

Abilities of Northwest NJ is Hosting a Halfway to Halloween Costume Ball

Abilities Northwest is hosting a Halfway to Halloween Costume Ball scheduled for Saturday, May 3, at Mainline Catering & Events, 341 Pursel Street in Phillipsburg, NJ. Sponsorships, admission, and 50/50 tickets can be purchased online. The online auction is open- you don’t need to attend the event to bid on and win prizes. 

Visit www.abilitiesnw.com/events or scan the QR Code for more information about this exciting event!

If you have news or information you would like to see in the next issue of The Bridge, please contact Kelly by phone: 856.767.5757 ext. 242 or by email: kelly.jones@archwayprograms.org.